She Who Became the Sun

She Who Became the Sun by Shelley Parker-Chan is a captivating historical fantasy that reimagines the rise of Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Set against the backdrop of 14th-century China under Mongol rule, the story follows two children who must navigate a tumultuous world of love, loss, and rebellion after their village is destroyed. With a protagonist determined to defy her destiny by taking on a brother’s identity, the novel explores themes of ambition, sacrifice, and power in a richly imagined historical landscape.